Bespoke Basilica C #1

Estonia-based Jeremy Casdagli has had the cigar world buzzing ever since he unveiled his Bespoke brand cigars back in the 1990s. Once made in Cuba and now made in the Dominican Republic under the auspices of Henrik Kelner, Jr. of that most famous of cigar blending families, Bespoke cigars have found their way onto the bucket lists of cigar aficionados across the land. And the Bespoke Basilica C #1 is leading the way.

The Bespoke Basilica C #1 is a tantalizing 6” x 52 cigar built around a lavish core of filler tobaccos from Nicaragua, Peru and the Dominican Republic which are tucked inside of both a Dominican and a Nicaraguan binder leaf, with an exotic Brazilian wrapper leaf surrounding it all. The cigar also features an unfinished foot, resembling the exploding canon which was used in a 15th Century siege of Constantinople for which the cigar is named.

The luscious Bespoke Basilica C #1 is a delightfully smooth and easy-going smoke, which is absolutely bursting with tasty goodness. Full-flavored but mellow in character, the lavish cigar smoking experience will titillate the senses with enchanting bursts of sweet spice, nut and citrus nuances on the way to a glorious finish.

While not the most well-known cigar brands available today, Bespoke cigars and in particular the Basilica C #1, are truly must-haves for any cigar connoisseur. Rich in taste, elegant in body and downright pleasing, the Bespoke Basilica C #1 is a cigar you won’t soon forget.

Detailed Tasting Notes, courtesy of Bespoke Cigars

Cold Draw/Prelight: Green tea, hay, grass, citrus notes reminiscent of lime, lemon and orange blossoms.

1st Third: Beautiful notes of citrus - fresh lemon and lime, tobacco, earth, dark rich chocolate and cocoa powder. An undertone of grass/hay is also present. Dried raisins and figs show up shortly. Medium bodied at start, with full flavor. Hay and grass. Beautiful notes of roasted coffee. Notes of oak, smoked wood and cedar show up on the transition to the 2nd third.

2nd Third: Starts with grass, also look for hay undertones to show up again. Tobacco is beautifully framing the whole cigar, with rich notes of chocolate and espresso. The chocolate note is reminiscent of a very fine Valrhona chocolate. The oak note frames everything together.

Final Third: The body changes into medium-full, with grass, notes of hay, rich citrus - lime/lemon like, espresso, chocolate and cocoa powder dance on the palate effortlessly. The cigar finishes on a earthy/tobacco note. A sublime cigar that takes you on a veritable rollercoaster of experience.